Though priced slightly on the higher side, the non-toxic colours do not harm the skin if these are smeared on others or sprayed with water.

“Since the past five years, we have been celebrating Herbal Holi which is different, safe and hygienic. We use all domestic products such as turmeric, multani mud, leaves of neem, paste of tomato as colours,” said Rosalin Sahu, an organiser.

A shop owner at Saheed Nagar in Bhubaneswar said, “The public is now asking for harmless colours during Holi.”